Vigil in Solidarity with Standing Rock Protest

BANGOR, Maine — A vigil in solidarity with Standing Rock protest will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Bangor Waterfront, near the Sea Dog Restaurant.

Local citizens will gather to show solidarity with the peaceful action taking place at Standing Rock, where thousands are gathered to protect vital waterways and are being met with escalating levels of police violence and countless human and civil rights violations.

This week more than 100 law enforcement officers, accompanied by tanks, helicopters, and drones, raided a peaceful protest in North Dakota. Many were arrested and some were injured seriously.

“We cannot continue to submit to systemic racism, corporate rule and ecocide. We are holding a vigil for people in our community who want to show their support for all those who are taking this vital stand for life in the face of an atrocity,” according to Kim Hammill of the Bangor Racial and Economic Justice Coalition, in a press release.

“What’s happening at Standing Rock is one of the greatest human rights tragedies of our time. For those gathered in prayer at the site, the violent attacks by police are akin to the massacre that took place at Wounded Knee in 1890, where Native peoples were killed for participating in the ghost dance ceremony. The trauma of this will last for generations, as will the ecological ramifications of the contamination of these vital waterways,” says Sherri Mitchell of the Penobscot Nation says:

Event details:

June Sapiel, whose son has been arrested at the site, will share updates about what’s happening in Standing Rock.

Sherri Mitchell will offer a prayer and reflections on the events unfolding.

Prayers will also be offered by other tribal peoples.

Participants will line the Bangor side of the Penobscot River – those who choose to march will cross over the Chamberlain Bridge and will line the Brewer side of the river as well.

A candlelight vigil will begin after the march.

People are invited to bring candles and drums, but some candles will be available at the event.